September 2018 LINK-UP Keeping Churches in Touch www.godalmingchurches.org

From the Chair We want to have a greater presence This was a phrase used by Rev Maggie Stirling-Troy (Vice Chair of Churches Together) during the United Service (Worship@The Bandstand - actually at The Baptist due to the weather).

She was talking about the two events at Christmas, the Winter Festival on 24 November (organised by the Town Council) and Christmas Together on 8 December (organised by a small - very small - group of dedicated CTiGD people.

We worship together and work together, but we do need to pray together more and to Pray for .

I have become aware of a group who is doing this, to pray against other groups who are not Christian.

Not only should we worship together and work together we should pray together and have a greater presence in the Town.

Michael Stubbs, Chair of Godalming and District Churches Together, [email protected]

Events for your diary Below is a selection of the many events taking place during September 2018 and beyond. More detail can be found in the sections below and on the Churches Together website: www.godalmingchurches.org/calendar

Saturday 25 August 08:30 – Churches Together Prayer Breakfast, Ladywell Convent Monday 3 September 10:30 to 11:30 – Prayers for Feba, 42 Minster Road, Godalming Saturday 8 September 10:00 – Churches Ride and stride, starts from St John the Evangelist, Saturday 22 September 08:00 to 10:00 – Churches Together Prayer Breakfast, Mark's Church 09:00 to 11:00 – Ladies breakfast, The Jack Phillips (Wetherspoons) Wednesday 26 September 19:30 - Resisting occupation, creating a future, Godalming Quaker Meeting House Thursday 27 September 18:30 to 21:30 - The Bible in an Evening, Waverley (see Godalming Baptist Church) Saturday 29 September 10:00 to 12:00 - What's Going On In Depression, Godalming Baptist Church Saturday 20 October 10:00 to 16:00 - Day of Reflection 'The Still Point of the Turning World’, St. John’s Seminary, Saturday 15 December 14:00 and 19:00 – Manna Ministries: The last laugh, St Catherine's Theatre, Bramley

Link-Up September 2018 Page 1 of 4 www.godalmingchurches.org News of the Churches and organisations St John's Church, Farncombe Village show As usual, we hosted the annual Village Show on 18 August, this year with some doubt as to how much people would actually have managed to grow given the dry weather. In fact, total entries were only slightly down on 2017, and there was a high quality of produce. Hopefully Farncombe’s gardeners won’t have to struggle quite so much next year!

Fellowship group We have begun a new fellowship group and are proceeding with our service review, slowly but surely. www.farncombe.org.uk

Godalming Baptist Church Ladies' breakfast, Saturday 22 September On Saturday 22 September we have a Ladies breakfast in the back room of The Jack Phillips (Wetherspoons) from 9:00 to 11:00. Ladies are warmly invited to join us for breakfast together (porridge, tea and toast or a full English!) and then hear from our Speaker - author Kathleen McAnear Smith as she shares her faith journey and 'A call to Mentoring'. Please contact Sally Pollard at [email protected] or tel 01483- 428646 if you would like to come.

The Bible in an Evening, Thursday 27 September An opportunity to go to the beautiful surroundings of for 'The Bible In An Evening' from 18:30 to 21:30, led by Andy Peck. Come and examine how God's Word works in our daily lives and be inspired to discover its treasure anew for the rest of your life. This evening is open to everyone. Cost £5 per person. Please contact Sally (details as above) to book a place by 9 September.

Life issue session on depression, 29 September On Saturday 29 September from 10:00 to 12:00 (coffee at 9:30), Dr Martin Brunet a GP from Binscombe Medical centre, is returning to GBC to lead our life issue session 'What's Going On In Depression'. To book a place, please contact either Sally [email protected] or Janet fry [email protected] or Church Office: 01483-422105 (Mon, Weds or Friday mornings).

Dr Brunet also leads a monthly 'Art Space' on a Saturday morning - do call in for a flier. It is a very relaxing morning of arts and crafts so do spread the word!

Visit our library Just a reminder for the summer holiday that everyone is warmly invited to browse through our books in the library at GBC and borrow any that are of interest. There is a great selection of books to encourage, equip, challenge and inspire us on our faith journey and also books on life issues such as depression, singleness, bereavement, eating disorders, finances and so much more. Do call in any weekday morning when Reception is open and the Library is available.

Looking forward to the changing season and the beautiful colours of autumn. God bless and love from all at GBC. www.godalmingbaptistchurch.org.uk

Godalming United Church This is "stationing" time in the Methodist church, when ministers take up new posts. In the Wey Valley Circuit - to which we belong - we are delighted to welcome a new Superintendent and his wife - Rev Keith Beckingham and Hilary. Keith was previously Superintendent in the West Midlands and, further back, , and his early ministry was in the Salvation Army. Unsurprisingly one of his interests is music as a tool for mission. www.guc.org.uk

Link-Up September 2018 Page 2 of 4 www.godalmingchurches.org St Edmund King & Martyr Godalming with St Joseph’s Milford Roman Catholic Churches Canon David Parmiter At the closing Mass of the Arundel and Brighton Lourdes Pilgrimage, the Bishop appointed Fr David as a Canon. We are all delighted, and the ceremony will take place at Arundel Cathedral on Sunday 21 October at 14:00.

Divine Renovation Parish Development A part time Parish Assistant has been appointed to support Fr David and the DR team who meet every two weeks. We have implemented a monthly “Know Your Neighbour Weekend” when everyone wears a name badge and is encouraged to talk to their neighbour and to sit in a different place in church. The prayer group meet before each service to lead the congregation in the DR Mission Prayer. We are organising two Alpha “taster events” in September, and the next course will start at the end of September/early October and probably be held on a Sunday night at St John’s, Farncombe. For further information, contact [email protected].

Parish Prayer Group Monday 3, 10, 17 and 24 September, 20:00 at The Old Farmhouse, (opposite the Golden Fleece) contact Richard Grey 01252 702230

Bible Study Tuesday 4, 11, 18 and 25 September, 10:30 at St Joseph’s Room, Milford.

Day of Adoration, Friday 7 September To coincide with the Eucharistic Congress in Liverpool on Friday 7 September at St Joseph’s Milford. The day will start with the Friday Morning Prayer at 9:15, Mass at 9:30, followed by Benediction, after which the Blessed Sacrament will remain in the Monstrance on the alter until 18:45 when the day will end with Benediction and Rosary. It is hoped that Parishioners and CTiG members will sign up for a period of SILENT adoration during the day. For further information contact [email protected]

Ride & Stride, Saturday 8 September Ride & Stride will again be riding and striding this year on Saturday 8 September to raise money to help maintain Surrey church buildings. The local area organiser, Ian Honeysett, has emailed details to all churches for which he has contact details, but if yours has not been contacted, please let Ian know and he will respond! Ian can be contacted on: [email protected] As usual, he will be leading a group of cyclists from St John's, Farncombe at 10:00 on 8 September to cycle round local churches, and all cyclists (and fast walkers) are very welcome to join him.

Healing Mass, Saturday 15 September Details to be confirmed but probably 6pm at St Joseph’s, Portsmouth Road, Milford.

Annual St Edmunds Quiz night, Saturday 20 October 19:00 at St John’s Church Room, Farncombe – in aid of CAFOD. Tickets on sale now only £10 to include filled baked potato supper. Tables of eight so organise your team now. For more information or to book tickets contact [email protected]

Day of Reflection 'The Still Point of the Turning World’, Saturday 20 October, 10:00 to 16:00 The day will offer meditation, mindfulness and prayer practices, reflections on scripture, poetry and visual images - to explore the concept of stillness and how we can find rest and renewal in a frantic world. Led by Rev. Sheena Gabriel and Dr. Rob Oulton a retired GP, an experienced meditator and trained facilitator in 'Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction'. Venue St. John’s Seminary, Road, Wonersh, GU5 0QX to book a place contact [email protected] 07973 500 811

DIY SOS Help needed to install screens at St Joseph’s , Portsmouth Road, Milford. We are having difficulty finding an electrician to install our screens to project the hymns and prayers for our services. If anyone can help or signpost us to a company that can carry out this work we would be most grateful. Contact [email protected] www.stedmundgodalming.btck.co.uk

Link-Up September 2018 Page 3 of 4 www.godalmingchurches.org Godalming Resisting occupation, creating a future, Wednesday 26 September 19:30 - A talk by Mahmoud Kawasmeh, Director of Hebron International Resource Network (HIRN). Godalming Quaker Meeting House, The Mint, Godalming GU7 1HB. For information and to reserve a seat, email [email protected] or call 01252 792609

Manna Ministries The last laugh – bullying never pays, Saturday 15 December Join Manna Academy as they perform an adaption of the beloved story The Three Little Pigs as an anti- bullying campaign. Performances at 14:00 and 19:00 at St Catherine's Theatre, Station Road, Bramley GU5 0DF. Tickets £6 for children, £7 for adults or £20 for a family ticket (2 adults and 2 children) available at www.mannaministries.org.uk.

Items for next month's Link-UP Please send items for the September 2018 edition of Link-Up to Matt Farrow: [email protected] by Friday 14 September for issue on Friday 21 September.

Link-Up September 2018 Page 4 of 4 www.godalmingchurches.org